Outside Belfast

So much to see and do

Our countryside has inspired saints and scholars such as CS Lewis, Seamus Heaney and Saint Patrick.

Travel to the dawn of time

Well worth the road trip for the spectacular Antrim Coast Road drive alone, the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must.

While in the area you could also test your nerve crossing the death-defying Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. There are also plenty of stunning beaches to enjoy a lazy Sunday walk – some just 25 minutes from Belfast.

Climb to the top of the world

An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Mourne Mountains are home to our tallest peak, Slieve Donard.

Take a day to scale the heights and survey the beauty of County Down laid out beneath you. Follow the 22-mile long Mourne Wall, featured in Game of Thrones. And if you’re a fan
of the hit HBO show, you can’t afford to miss a trip to the Dark Hedges. This twisted avenue of light and shade is one of Northern Ireland’s most photographed natural phenomena, and doubles as the King’s Road in the series.

Adrenaline thrills

If adrenaline thrills are your thing, the lakes, waterways and beaches of the region offer outdoor fun to suit everyone.

Try a Sea Safari on Strangford Lough, where you might spot seals, porpoises or a basking shark, or test the north Atlantic surf off the coast at Portrush, ranked among the best in the world.

Whether you're into zorbing, paddle-boarding, mountain-biking or zip-lining there's something for all tastes.

Sail back to the sixth century

The beautiful Lakelands of County Fermanagh are a rare treat, best accessed by boat.

Visit Devenish Island, home to a multitude of historic gems dating back as far the sixth century. Go deep underground, into the wonder of the Marble Arch Caves, a natural network of limestone caverns.

Breathe the air on unspoiled beaches

Northern Ireland has no fewer than ten Blue Flag Beaches along its coastline.

The County Down coast at Holywood is no more than twenty minutes from Queen’s by train and extends for miles.

See Northern Ireland’s city of culture

Take the train to the walled city of Derry~Londonderry, the inaugural UK City of Culture in 2013.

Steeped in five centuries of history, it’s a city of beautiful architecture and has a real youthful buzz. The train journey there passes underneath the iconic Mussenden Temple, perched on the cliff’s edge.